US3908356A

US3908356A - Watch case and band

Info

Publication number: US3908356A
Application number: US520264A
Authority: US
Inventors: William J Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1974-11-04
Filing date: 1974-11-04
Publication date: 1975-09-30
Anticipated expiration: 1992-09-30

Abstract

A watch case and band manufactured of a copper or copper-alloy material with there being no gaps between the connection of the band to the case such that a continuous solid loop of copper mass is placed in direct contact with an individual''s skin when wearing the watch to make use of the purported capability of copper to alleviate the pain and suffering of arthritic ailments.

Description

United States Patent Williams Sept. 30, 1975 [54] WATCH CASE AND BAND FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS l l lnvcmo" William Williams, 103 Jeffrcy Ch 1.210385 10/1970 United Kingdom I. 63/ll Ashland, Ky. 41 NH 22 Fi 4 1974 Primary E.\aminerGeorge H. Miller, Jr.

Attorney. Agent, or FirmMarden S. Gordon [2]] Appl. No.: 520,264

[57] ABSTRACT t [5-] U.S. (.l 58/88 W A watch case and band manufactured of a pp or [51] Int. Cl.- 6048 37/00 pp y material with there being no g p [58] Fleld of Search 58/88 88 88 tween the connection of the band to the case such that a continuous solid loop of copper mass is placed in di- 56 R Ct d rect Contact with an individuals skin when wearing l e erences I e the watch to make use of the purported capability of UNITED STATES PATENTS copper to alleviate the pain and suffering of arthritic 2,676.736 4/1954 Tourneziu 58/88 W X ailments, 2,948,941 8/1960 Bruhn et ul. -Irv/2.157 M972 MzIneeri 58/88 w 1 Claim, 4 Drawlng Figures WATCH CASE AND BAND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to the provision ofa watch case and band manufactured of copper-alloy material so as to be worn in a normal manner by an individual while placing a continuous band of copper about the individuals skin for its purported capability of alleviation of pain and suffering caused by arthritic ailments.

2. Description of the Prior Art Throughout the ages the wearing of a copper article about an individuals body, such as a bracelet, copper band, and the like have long been thought to provide relief from pain caused by arthritic ailments. This ageold belief has, in recent years, been subjected to intensive medical investigation which now tends to indicate that there is scientific fact involved with the wearing of a copper band about an individuals wrist, the copper having the capability of alleviation of pain and suffering from arthritic ailments even though the reason therefor is not fully medically known but, rather, is medically acknowledged.

A disadvantage in the wearing of such copper band and the like is that the same is apparent to other individuals who then know the individual wearing such band is subject to arthritic ailments, this proving embarrassing and generally not desired by the individual wearing the band who normally wishes to keep such ailments private and secret from other individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention recognizes an individuals desired for secrecy of arthritic ailments while also recognizing the capability of a copper band to provide alleviation of arthritic ailments, and accordingly the present invention provides a novel solution thereto in the form ofa novel watch case and watch band which are manufactured of copper material and wherein the watch band is joined to the watch case in a manner to provide for a continuous uninterrupted loop of copper completely surrounding an individuals wrist, with such being worn by the individual in'a manner appearing to be a normal watch such that it is unobtrusive and unnoticeable to other individuals who are thus unaware of the wearing individuals arthritic ailment.

The provision of a watch case and band manufactured of copper and providing a continuous copper loop therebetween, such as briefly outlined above, and possessing the stated advantages, constitutes the principal feature of the present invention. The provision of a copper watch case and band which is relatively simple in its construction and which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture due to its simplicity of construction; one which is possessed of few parts and which therefore is unlikely to get out of order; one which is of a rugged and durable construction and which therefore may be guaranteed by the manufacturer to withstand many years of intended usage; one which is aesthetically pleasing and refined in appearance; one which is easy to use and maintain; and one which, otherwise, is well adapted to perform the services required of it, are further desirable features which have been borne in mind in the production and development of the present invention.

Other features and advantages of this invention will be apparent during the course of the following description BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which like reference characters are employed to designate like parts throughout the same:

FIG. I is a side elevational view of the watch case and band of the present invention illustrated as worn on the wrist of an individual;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the watch case and band of the present invention having a watch mechanism mounted in the watch case; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to the drawings in detail there is illustrated a preferred form of a watch case and band constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention and designated generally in their entirety by reference numeral 10 and which is comprised of two component parts, namely a flexible watch band 11 and a rigid watch case 12.

The watch band 11 and watch case 12 are manufactured of copper material and are of a structure and assembled together, as will be later described, so as to provide a continuous and uninterrupted loop of a mass of copper about an individuals wrist, such as generally illustrated in FIG. 1 as being worn on the individuals wrist of hand 15.

The band 11 is of an expansion band flexible construction formed of a series of interconnected links 21 disposed in generally side-by-side relationship and interconnected together by pivot joints (not shown) in a conventional manner to provide for the stretching and contraction of the band. The band 11 is of a flat configuration having opposed identical ends 22 and 23 with each end provided with a cylindrical bore 24 extending transversely completely therethrough and adapted to receive therein a cylindrical tube 25 containing a spring 26 therein and having

pins

27 and 28 telescopically received in opposite ends of the tube 25 and biased outwardly of the tube by means of the spring 26.

The case 12 is of a solid rigid mass of copper having a flat bottom surface 31, opposed

ends

32 and 33, opposed sides 34 and 35, and a flat top surface 36 provided with a circular recess 37 opening thereoutof and extending into the case and adapted to receive a watch mechanism 38 therein.

Disposed in each of the

ends

32 and 33 is a recess of a rectangular cross-sectional configuration designated generally by the reference numeral 41 with the recess extending inwardly of the case 12 and being of a height and width to receive therein an associated one of the ends 22, 23 of the band 11. Disposedin opposite side walls 42 and 43 of the interior of recess 41 are axially aligned apertures 44 and 45 which extend completely therethrough and open out of

sides

33 and 34 respectively, each of the apertures being of a diameter to telescopically receive therein an associated one of the

pins

27, 28.

In operation, the ends 22, 23 of band 11 are inserted into associated ones of the recesses 41 in

opposite ends

32, 33 of the case 12 where they are secured in position by the associated tubes 25 and

pins

27, 28, the pins being brought into axial registration with associated ones of the apertures 44 and 45 to engage the same and retain the end of the band 11 secured to the case 12. By this manner of securement the complete interior surface 51 of the band 11 along with the complete mass of copper of watch case 12, by means of bottom surface 31, is placed in direct uninterrupted contact with an individuals skin to provide the continuous band of copper about the individual's skin, this continuous band purported to have capabilities of alleviating the pain and suffering caused by arthritic ailments.

A watch band and case is thus provided by the present invention for use by individuals suffering from arthritic ailments and providing that the individual wear the same in an unobtrusive and unobvious manner so as to not be apparent to other persons about the individual that the individual suffers from arthritic ailments.

It is to be understood that the form of this invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that this invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of the construction as to shape, size, and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of the novel concepts thereof, or the scope of the sub-joined claims.

1 claim:

1. A watch case and band intended to be worn about a wrist of an individual, the watch case and band comprising, in combination:

a flat elongated expansion band having an interior surface and an exterior surface and opposed identical terminal ends, the band formed of a multitude of pivotally interconnected links to provide for the expansion and contraction of the band along the length of the band; an elongated cylindrical bore extending transversely through each terminal end of the band between opposite side edges thereof;

the band being manufactured of copper material;

a rigid watch case of a rectangular box-like configuration having a solid flat horizontal bottom surface, a flat horizontal top surface, a pair of opposed vertical flat end wall surfaces, and a pair of opposed vertical flat side wall surfaces;

an open topped compartment defined interiorally of the watch case and opening out of the top surface of the watch case centrally thereof, the compartment adapted to receive therein a time keeping watch mechanism;

the watch case being manufactured of copper;

a pair of rectangularly shaped sockets each of an identical configuration, each socket defined in one of the end wall surfaces of the watch case and opening out of the end wall surface. the sockets being disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other;

each of the sockets being identical and being ofa width and height slightly greater than the width and thickness respectively of the terminal ends of the watch band to receive the terminal ends therein;

each socket being of a sufficient depth to completely receive the terminal ends of the watch band completely therein, leaving no gaps, air spaces, and the like between the watch band and the watch case in a manner providing a continuous uninterrupted interior surface of copper material in contact with the skin of the individual when wearing the watch band about the individuals wrist; pair of axially aligned apertures extending longitudinally through the width of each of the sockets through opposite side walls thereof, the apertures extending completely through the side walls and opening out of the exterior surfaces of the side walls placing the socket in communication with the exterior of the side walls;

pair of elongated hollow open ended cylindrical tubes, each tube passing axially through an associated one of the cylindrical bores in the terminal ends of the band;

concentrically coiled spring disposed centrally in each of the cylindrical tubes and having its ends spaced inwardly of the cylindrical tubes;

a pair of pin members associated with each of the cylindrical tubes, each pin member being of a diameter less than the diameter of the interior of the cylindrical tubes and being telescopically received through opposite open ends of the cylindrical tubes with one end of each pin member engaging an adjacent end of the associated coil spring and with the'opposite end of each pin member projecting outwardly of the cylindrical tube, the spring resiliently biasing the pins in a direction outwardly of the cylindrical tube;

the pin members being placed in axial registration with associated ones of the side wall apertures when the terminal end of the band is completely received in the socket with the pins engaging the side wall apertures and pivotally retaining the band to the watch case; and

the combination of the band and watch case providing a continuous uninterrupted interior surface of copper material completely surrounding an individuals wrist when wearing the band and watch case, and with the watch case providing a mass of copper in direct contact with the skin of the individual wearing the band and watch case.

Claims

1. A watch case and band intended to be worn about a wrist of an individual, the watch case and band comprising, in combination: a flat elongated expansion band having an interior surface and an exterior surface and opposed identical terminal ends, the band formed of a multitude of pivotally interconnected links to provide for the expansion and contraction of the band along the length of the band; an elongated cylindrical bore extending transversely through each terminal end of the band between opposite side edges thereof; the band being manufactured of copper material; a rigid watch case of a rectangular box-like configuration having a solid flat horizontal bottom surface, a flat horizontal top surface, a pair of opposed vertical flat end wall surfaces, and a pair of opposed vertical flat side wall surfaces; an open topped compartment defined interiorally of the watch case and opening out of the top surface of the watch case centrally thereof, the compartment adapted to receive therein a time keeping watch mechanism; the watch case being manufactured of copper; a pair of rectangularly shaped sockets each of an identical configuration, each socket defined in one of the end wall surfaces of the watch case and opening out of the end wall surface, the sockets being disposed in longitudinal alignment with each other; each of the sockets being identical and being of a width and height slightly greater than the width and thickness respectively of the terminal ends of the watch band to receive the terminal ends therein; each socket being of a sufficient depth to completely receive the terminal ends of the watch band completely therein, leaving no gaps, air spaces, and the like between the watch band and the watch case in a manner providing a continuous uninterrupted interior surface of copper material in contact with the skin of the individual when wearing the watch band about the individual''s wrist; a pair of axially aligned apertures extending longitudinally through the width of each of the sockets through opposite side walls thereof, the apertures extending completely through the side walls and opening out of the exterior surfaces of the side walls placing the socket in communication with the exterior of the side walls; a pair of elongated hollow open ended cylindrical tubes, each tube passing axially through an associated one of the cylindrical bores in the terminal ends of the band; a concentrically coiled spring disposed centrally in each of the cylindrical tubes and having its ends spaced inwardly of the cylindrical tubes; a pair of pin members associated with each of the cylindrical tubes, each pin member being of a diameter less than the diameter of the interior of the cylindrical tubes and being telescopically received through opposite open ends of the cylindrical tubes with one end of each pin member engaging an adjacent end of the associated coil spring and with the opposite end of each pin member projecting outwardly of the cylindrical tube, the spring resiliently biasing the pins in a direction outwardly of the cylindrical tube; the pin members being placed in axial registration with associated ones of tHe side wall apertures when the terminal end of the band is completely received in the socket with the pins engaging the side wall apertures and pivotally retaining the band to the watch case; and the combination of the band and watch case providing a continuous uninterrupted interior surface of copper material completely surrounding an individual''s wrist when wearing the band and watch case, and with the watch case providing a mass of copper in direct contact with the skin of the individual wearing the band and watch case.